YAY your engagement session is coming! YIKES what should you do to prepare??

The good news is that there’s not too much that you have to do. Your loving photographer (hi!) will take care of most everything!

BUT I know it can still be nerve-wracking! You’ve most likely never done this before and you don’t know what to expect. I mean, even during our engagement session I was super nervous myself! 

If you’re anything like me, you like to prep and learn as much as you can about something before it happens. Friend, I am so glad you’re here! 

P.S. If you prefer to watch this in video form, click below!

Let’s dive into 5 easy peasy ways to prep for your engagement session!

1. Leave earlier than you think you should

Two things: sunlight is our very best friend, and ATX traffic is our worst enemy! 

You’re probably familiar with ~golden hour~ and no, this time I’m not talking about Kacey Musgraves.

We love to plan our engagement sessions about two and a half hours before sunset. Tbh, I love super bright sun because it gives everything a pop! Which can be just as dreamy as the soft lovely light of golden hour. 

So starting this early lets us get some of that pop and the glowy dewyness of golden hour!

Anyway – I promise I’m done talking about the sun…! The point is, we literally need sunshine to take beautiful photos and the later we start, the less sunlight we get!

So give yourselves some wiggle room when you’re leaving for your session. There will always be random traffic or trouble finding parking! And the last thing we want is y’all thinking about the time and worrying if you do happen to arrive a little late. No stress, y’all! 

2. Pack your second outfits and have them ready to go

I am a huge proponent of being ~extra~ during your whole fiance-hood but especially during your engagement session!

Does this mean bringing one or two additional outfits to change into? UMM yes it does!

Usually our sweet couples will start with a more casual, date night look and bring along a more formal/dressy wedding guest look! 

If you’re looking to level up your engagement session, going all out black tie is the best way to do it. Dressing more formal will give your photos a timeless feel, and not to get all sappy on ya but these are the photos you’ll be sharing with your grandchildren one day..! 

So in order to be ready to dive in, definitely pack your second or third outfits up in one bag if you can. During your session, we may wander pretty far from your car and so carrying your additional outfits along will maximize our time together!

P.S. be sure to pack your shoes, jewelry, and extra lil details in there too!!!

3. Don’t Forget the Ring!

Okay, I do mean this in the literal sense because it has happened before and our couple had to turn around and grab it from home! 

But what I also mean is make sure it’s ready to shiiiine! We love to highlight the ring in some little detail, candid shots. Sometimes, when you’re changing into outfit number two, we’ll take your ring and shoot it in whatever setting we’re in! Like I said, we highlight that sparkle!!!

I always recommend getting it professionally cleaned if you can. It always looks brand spankin’ new when they do it! 

But you can also buy a jewelry cleaning pen or soak. There’s also some DIY methods to cleaning your ring too! 

4. Plan A Date Post-Session

Yes, this is technically not about the session itself. But it 100% needs to go into your engagement session prep process! 

You’ll already be dressed up, lookin’ cute, and will have spent the last hour or so being all cute with your fiance. Sooo YES y’all deserve to treat yourselves!!

It’s also handy that we end right at dinnertime…! We’ve had couples who go back to their first date night spot, or their favorite restaurant! 

Your engagement session is supposed to be a *celebration* from start to finish, and you definitely should finish on a super high note!

5. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Okay, I know you’re probably already thinking about a million things and I’ve just given you so much more to think about.

Above all else, it is so important that you trust in your photographer and let go of the stress once your session starts. It’s imperative to how the session goes and to the way your photos turn out!

Remember during all of your prep: the whole point of the session is to celebrate your only time as fiancés! 

I fully believe this chapter of your life is just as special as the married ones to come. 

Years from now, you won’t remember that your hair had gotten frizzy or that your lipstick faded a little. You’ll look back and remember the anticipation, the love, and the excitement of this season in your life! We want you to feel that when you look back at your photos. 

The best advice we can give is to relax, laugh a lot, and we’ll take care of the rest!

Feeling prepped and ready for your engagement session?

I hope this has helped you prep for your engagement session! If you’re reading this, it’s likely coming up and we are so excited for you! 

If your next step is outfit planning, can we be Pin pals? Follow me on Pinterest to get all the outfit inspo and even more wedding and engagement session tips!

To see all of our recent engagement sessions, click here!